Collar.



J. FESSENDEN.

coLLAR. (Application Med Feb. 19, 1898.)

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UNITED STATES1 .PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. FESSENDEN, OFv ST. FRANCIS, MINNESOTA.

COLLAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,032, dated October 31, 1899.

Apnlication tiled February 19, 1898. Serial No. 670,928. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. FESSENDEN, of St. Francis, Anoka county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Collars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to horse collars. Heretofore leather and canvas stuffed collars have been made with a substantially rigid connection between the lower parts of the collar, the collar being opened at the top only. Such collars often break at the bottom unless handled with care.

The object of this invention is to provide a horse-collar which may be opened for the purpose of placing it upon or taking it from the neck of the horse without straining or breaking the. collar.l

The particular object of the invention is to provide a spring-collar which may be thus opened and which will normally hold the collar closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment which may be employed to repair broken collars.

The invention consists generallyT in a horsecollar having its sides connected by a flexible joint or hinge; and, further, the invention consists ina spring-hinge employed between the sides of a collar to normally close the same, yet permitting the sides to be opened or separated for the purpose of placing the collar upon or taking it from the horses neck; and the invention further consists in various constructions and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying'drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a collar embodying my invention, the dotted lines showing the same open. Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line Qc as of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. .4 is a sectional view on the line z z of Fig.` 3. Fig. 5 is a detail of the clamp for securing the collar at the Withers.

In the drawings I have illustrated a horsecollar of the ordinary form and construction, the same comprising the two sides, each of which has a wide pad 2 and a fore-Wale 3, be-v tween which parts, on opposite sides, are the grooves or creases 4 to receive the llames. At the top the sides of the collars are preferably held together by a steel spring 5, secured to one side and having a clasp 6 to engage the other side of the collar. The spring-hinge coupling employed between the lower ends of the two sides of the collar has parts or sockets that conform to the shape of the collar, and these parts are connected by a hinge or pivot of any desired form and occupying a substantially horizontal position. The device which l prefer comprises the hinge-straps 7 and 8, at the inner ends of which are the hinge-ears 9 and 10, respectively. These are connected by the pivot or bolt 11, the end of which is preferably secured in one of the ears 10 by a thread, as shown, while the head of the bolt is heldin the opposite ear 10. The opening of the ear or eye 9 of the hinge is preferably of a greater size than the bolt or pivot 11 to accommodate the spring 12. This is arranged about the bolt and takes up the space between the same and the inner wall of the eye or lug 9. The ends 13 of this spring press upon the opposite plates 7 and 8 and tend to close the two sides of the collar together, said ends of the spring preferably passing through holes 14 in the plates 7 and 8.

The plates 7 and 8 conform to the under side of the collar, and the sockets are completed by the top plates 15, which also conform to the collar, and, with the hinge-plates, are secured to the collar by several bolts or ties 16. The parts are preferably malleable in order that they may be furnished to harnessmanufacturers, harness-makers, and repairshops as distinct articles of manufacture to be applied to all kinds or makes of collars, it being only necessary to cut a common collar at the bottom and insert my hinge device to make a complete and durable collar, and, further, the samemay be used to repair broken collars. The plates 15 are made adjustable upon the heads of the bolts or ties, and by sliding them out or in the width of the collar when closed may be adj usted. The ends 17 of said plates 15 abut against the shoulders 18, that are provided upon the two parts of the hinge proper, and thus limit the closing movement and width of the two sides of the collar.

ICO

Obviously numerous changes may be made in the detail construction and form of my improved collar, and I therefore do not conine my invention to the details of construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination, with the sides of a horse-collar, of plates hinged together at the bottom of the collar and connecting its sides, a spring provided in connection with said plates, adjustable plates provided at the bottom of the collar in connection with said hinged plates, and whereby the width o1" the collar may be regulated and means carried by one of said sides at the top of the collar to engage the opposite side, substantially as described.

2. rlhe combination, with the sides of a horse-collar, of hinge-plates provided at the bottom of the collar and having interlocking ears, a hinge-bolt passing through said cars, a spring provided on said bolt and having its ends in engagement with said plates whereby the sides of the collar at its top will normally be held in engagement, substantially as described.

A horse-collar` open at the top and having its sides connected at the bottom by a hinge eomprisin g hinge-straps 7 and S to which the lower ends of the sides of the collar are secured, the interlocking hinge-ears 9 and 10, the pivot or bolt 1l passing through the same, the spring l2 provided on said bolt within said ear 9 and having its ends in engagement, respectively, with said hinge-straps 7 and S, whereby the ends of said sides, at the top of the collar, will be normally held together, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a collar divided at the top and bottom, of plates hinged together and pivotally connecting the sides of the collar at the bottom, said plates conforming to the under side of the collar, a spring in connection with said hinge-plates for normally holding the open top of the collar in a' closed position, substantially as described.

5. A horse-collar, open at the top, a hinge connecting the sides of said collar at the bottom, a spring in connection with said hinge for normally holding said sides together at the top, adjustable plates provided in connection with said hinge at the bottom of the collar, and shoulders 18 provided on said hinge and against which the ends of said plates abut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of February, ISSN, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

JOIIN C. FESSENDEN.

In presence of- F. 0. GERRISH, C. E. 'BUnNn'rr 

